Enterprise Hand Scanner Defined, Cheap Alternative from Common Item!

[thegreatgalling]

Hey guys,

I have been working on some Enterprise peices and was VERY suprised to find a very similar shape to the Enterprise hand scanner in a common item found in CVS. For those of you interested in constructing a quick Enterprise Hand Scanner, this is your best bet.

The product is called a "CVS 9 Compartment Pill Traveler" and typically runs for about $5.99.

I have included some comparison photos with a replica scanner I own. There would be some required work. While not EXACT, I think this baby can be made up to look 95% close. The dimensions are pretty spot on, all except for some required work: The top peice needs some work, you would need to do something so the the pill compartment remains in the open position and doesn't come out, the side grips would need to be added. Obv, other body work would be needed.

To be honest, I am REMARKABLY suspicious that this was the EXACT item they adapted to make the hand scanner. See for yourself:

Here is the official CVS photo of the pill traveler:

Here is mine:

Some Hand Scanner Reference pics:

If there's further interest, I can provide better pictures and actual dimensions.

Joe

 

[thegreatgalling]

It should be noted that the pill compartment lids are removable, leaving the top part closer to the original scanner, and also leaving it hollow for the introduction of electronics.

 

[HMS Mike]

Hi Guys,
I wish that was avalible when we made those. The Ent. Hand scanner's were completely scratch built. They were vacumformed shells with a cast hollow pop-up center. We were handed a drawing and told to make it.

HMS Mike

 

[feek61]

Looks like the pill container was "inspired" by the hand scanner. Isn't that ironic!

 

[thegreatgalling]

Ha, I wonder then if the shape did inspire CVS. If it didn't that is QUITE a coincidence!

 

[Contec]

Hi Guys,
I wish that was avalible when we made those. The Ent. Hand scanner's were completely scratch built. They were vacumformed shells with a cast hollow pop-up center. We were handed a drawing and told to make it.

HMS Mike

Care to tell how the pop-up mechanisem works.

 

[robstyle]

Many prop "designers" are inherently lazy or seek inspiration at the oddest of places. Star Trek is notorious for having off the shelf looking items and sometimes literally off the shelf items redressed as props. Stud finder anyone?

Other designs taken from real world items were the breathers from Riddick which were fabricated from scratch off an artists design, Harry's sword/knife handles from Spiderman 3 were based on a paintball gun kit, earpieces from Serenity were off the shelf modified items while the reaver weapons were reused from Ghosts of Mars even though they had an artist "design" them. That one cracked me up when I had seen it.

 

[blownhemi]

Nice find! :thumbsup

 

[Chronos]

A remarkable similarity!

Good eye, Joe! :thumbsup

 

[Jet Beetle]

I heard this one sci-fi movie used camera flash guns for sword handles.

 

[Zodou]

Well done! Now to find one....




Edit: Found one...

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/s...69&productId=407169&navAction=jump&navCount=3

 

[robstyle]

I heard this one sci-fi movie used camera flash guns for sword handles.

and a giant robots eye was built up around a childs rubber ball for a super hero movie about kids.

 

[Jeff_Haas]

I just found this thread the other day...so I got one of these CVS cases off of ebay.

Does anyone know where I can get a good image of the graphics used for the scans? I figure these need to be printed out on clear plastic and then they can be swapped.

Also it should be easy to fit all the electronics in the center section for pills. A few blue LEDs with button cells and a sound module with tiny speaker for the scanning sfx. I think the two buttons on the right of the pop-out section could turn on the LEDs and trigger the sounds.

 

[thegreatgalling]

I'll check my files. Keep us posted!

 

[thegreatgalling]

This is a nice closeup of a screenused. I would just size, print in high rez and cut it out.

 

[Jeff_Haas]

Thanks, that's a good start. We'll have to see how well it prints out - it might need to be recreated in a paint program to get really crisp.

I'm also trying to find other displays.

 

[epilepticsquirl]

This looks like it'd be a good candidate for one of those cheapo mp4 video players.

 

[STpropguy76]

I have (2) of these Pill Travelers myself.

Please keep us posted on how the Scanner conversion is turning out.

I have wanted to try this myself and I am very interested in seeing all progress Pic & info.

Please include where you found the materials to do the Conversion, Thanks.....

.Jeremiah

 

[thegreatgalling]

Man im sad to admit I never ended up working on mine. Looks like a fun project to tackle soon.

 

[MattMunson]

With the availability of resin castings of the actual prop, and the low price, I'm sort of surprised that everyone's so excited about this :lol I mean, it's not accurate, and it'll be a lot of work to convert it so that it's close to the original. Why not just buy a resin casting and be done with it??

I really don't mean to pooh-pooh the thread, it is indeed interesting that an off the shelf item has a resemblance to a prop. It's an interesting observation, but that's about it.